Pneumatic sounding device



W. A. GARRATT. PNEUMATIC SOUNDING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED IULYS, I920.

Patented Nov. 7, 11922.L

A Trop/vini under either suction or patented Nov, 7, 1922.

PATENT omer..

, WALTER A. GARRATT, 0F COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

PNEUMATIC iSOUNDING DEVICE Application led July 8,

To all whom t may cof/wem Be it known that I, WALTER A. GARRATT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Covington, in the county of Kenton and State Y'of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Sounding Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the drawings forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to sounding devices operated by air or other gaseous pressure as a motive force, particularly as' applied to warning Sounders or horns for automobiles wherein a constant supply of gases or air pressure is readily available.

Among other sources of power for my sounding device herein, I prefer to employ the suction present in the intake manifold or cylinder ofan automobile engine or the pressure generated in the exhaust in the cylinder.

The -device according to my invention herein is related to that shown in my application for patent Serial No. 340,833, filed November 26, 1919, where a horn for operation under manifold intake suction is shown.

The object of the invention here is to provide a simple form of sounding device adapted to .operate upon either pressure or suction, and to produce a novel sound of penetrating quality, but adjustable so as to vary the sound as desired.

Among other things involved in my invention herein4 is the utilization of a diaphragm having resiliency inherent ytherein, and a valve for the diaphragm mounted resiliently but with a a resilient movement not correspondent with that of the dia"- phragm, whereby the effect of suction or pressure on diaphragm and valve will result in vibra-tory movements of the valve and the diaphragm with relation to each other.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by that certain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more spe- 1920. serial No. 394,770.

valve from the sound projecting end of the device.

rI`he sound projecting device in the example selected for illustration of my invention comprises a horn 1, terminating in a flange 2. The back plate of the sounder is shown at 3 and it has a like flange 4to the flange of the horn, so that the two flanges may be secured together, with the vibratory diaphragm 5 between them. The diaphragm 5 may be of any desired material, which possesses substantial resiliency, and is secured at its periphery between the flanges of the back and the horn by means of bolts 6, rivets or any other desired means. In the exemplary form, wherein bolts are used` I employ gaskets on both sides of the diaphragm so as to make the disk air-tight at the edges.

I thus form between the back plate and the diaphragm a chamber 7 into which I prov/ide a port 8` from which a` pipe 9 extends to the desired source of power. The connection of the pipe either with the intake manifold or the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine will provide the chamber with suction or air under pressure for operating the sounding device.

,The diaphragm has formed centrally thereof a hole, into which is secured the seat ring 10 of the device. The valve 11 adapted to seat on what may be termed the outerr edge of the seat ring, is mounted against a suitable plate 12, by means of a bolt 13 and a nut 13et thereon.` There are two spring plates 14, securely mounted at their outer ends to the diaphragm, near the periphery thereof, `and thence extending toward the center of the diaphragm and away from its surface until they meet along a prolongation of the axis vofthe diaphragm.

The bolt 13 extends through a hole formed by notches 15 in the ends of the plates and has a nut 16 thereon which is to be adjusted by the operator. The plate 12 to which the valve is secured is resilient and has its ends bent inwardly and secured to the two springl plates as at 17, 17. The adjustment of the nut 16 controls the tension on the plate 12 with reference to the lates 14.

As so constructed, t e application of suction to the chamber behind the diaphragm will cause it to be drawn inwardly and away from the valve and the application of air under pressure will cause the valve to be lifted from its seat on the disk, while the disk is also moved outwardly.

Due to the conformation of the parts, the diaphragm can move rearwardly or inwardlyy to a greater.. extent than the valve, and the valve can move outwardly or forwardIy, to a greater extent than the diaphragm. Thus the spring plates or arms 14 will Vseparate upon valver movement outwardly and will be brought into tight abutment when the valve is drawn inwardly.

An abutment screw 18 to positively unseat the valve may be employed, which screw will be capable of adjustment, although for purposes of adjustment of the valve action the adjustment of the nut 16 should be sufcient.

Of course, as soon as the valve is unseated and the air allowed to pass through the opening between it and the seat ring, the seat and valve will come together due to the re` siliency ol' their mounting and the diaphragm will cause the vibrations of the air stream through the valve to set up a distinctive sound and the hammering of the valve on the seat ring will in addition cause the diaphragm to vibrate to some extent, giving it the function of a diaphragm as well as a 4motor element for the air interruption.

The simplicity of construction, ease of adjustment. l'cwness of parts and distinction of sound produced, makes of this horn, as described` an extremely practical as well as.

valuable structure. It will be understood that it is not desired to confine the invention to use with motor vehicles alone, nor to use as a warning signal only, since the structure is adapted to a wide variety of pneumatic sound production devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-1 ters Patent, is

1. A sound reproducing device comprising in combination a resilient diaphragm having a central aperture, a valve mounting device on the diaphragm having a resilient movement away from the diaphragm, and a valve on said mounting device to close the aperture in said diaphragm.

2. A sound reproducing device comprising in combination a diaphragm, having an aperture'therein, a pair of spring arms mounted on said diaphragm, and abutting at their ends whereby they may move outwardly away from the diaphragm, but not toward the disk, and a valve for the aperture, said arms being adapted to retain the valve in normal position closing the aperture.

3. A sound reproducing device comprising in combination a resilient diaphragm mounted at its periphery and free to vibrate elsewhere, a spring support for a valve mounted adjacent the periphery of the diaphragm, a valve stem supported by said spring support, a valve on the stem, said diaphragm having a central aperture against which the valve is normally seated.

4. A sound reproducing device comprising in combination a resilient diaphragm 1nounted at its periphery and free to vibrate elsewhere, a spring support for a valve mounted adjacent the periphery of the diaphragm, a valve stem supported by said spring support, a valve on the stem, said diaphragm having a central aperture against which the valve is normally Seated, said support comprising a pair of bent resilient arms having their ends adjacent each other, said valve stem being held between said ends, as and for the purpose described.

WALTER A. GARRATT. 

